This is page numbers 6883 - 6924 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was fund.

Topics

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to try to address an important and somewhat complicated issue. That is providing services to small and remote communities from our regional centres. Situations such as these are a result of fairly complicated charges but the same premise is simple.

When there are shortages, especially doctors, therapists, counsellors, and nurses, the first things that are cut are small and remote communities. This is wrong. According to the community leaders of Nunakput, every time there’s an expected shortage, we just accept it. They will get cut off of services for an indefinite period of time. What does this government allow? Our small and remote communities always get the shaft on services that are in jeopardy.

I went so far as to say that for recruitment of officers, these departments don’t have to replace vacant medical positions, because they never know where they’re living in small and remote communities. They don’t know what it’s like to have medical appointments cancelled time after time for elders and people on dental and just different surgeries.

The equalities between the major centres and small communities are huge and it seems to be getting worse. The regional offices get funding to provide services to our communities, but the cuts have been made. It’s always on the backs of our communities. In addition, I don’t think all of the staff with these offices realize that they’re supposed to service from remote communities. Many community leaders have said the same staff even think their first priority is the servicing of the major centres first, the small communities second. It’s a real shame. However, if the case of servicing the small communities is second place, then this government needs to come clean and state that. This government needs to ensure that the shortages of experienced small and remote communities aren’t always bearing the brunt of it all for these positions. This government needs to devote resources to ensure problems such as administrative policies and procedures...

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Like I said, this government needs to devote the resources to ensure that the problems such as administrative policies and procedures are not hindering our medical and administrative staff from providing the services that we desperately need in all of the communities; not just Yellowknife, not just Inuvik, but all.

I will have more questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about the quality of health services delivered in my riding of Nahendeh. Specifically I want to speak about how these services are provided to our elders.

I share my colleagues Mr. Yakeleya and Mr. Jacobson’s concerns that people are not being examined properly and are being misdiagnosed. We know that as we age, our bodies require more care, we need to see the doctor more often, and we need health professionals to take us seriously when we say that something is wrong. We may not be able to diagnose ourselves, but we know our bodies. If something is wrong, we need to be taken seriously.

Our elders are not receiving the quality of care they require. Many elders in the Nahendeh riding don’t understand the medical system. They don’t speak English well enough to communicate what is happening with their body. They also don’t understand what health professionals say to them about their health. As a result, I believe a late constituent passed away as a result of late diagnosis of cancer. He said people are dying before their time because they cannot convey their ailments properly and are being misdiagnosed.

Also people are being turned away at our health centres not once or twice but three times in a row. There is no one advocating for them to tell them that their ailments are real and they must be treated properly.

Adding to this situation is the inability to develop a relationship with doctors in the region because doctors change every six months or so and elders do not have the opportunity to build trust with the doctor before they have to explain their health situation all over again.

We require trained translators to accompany our elders to their doctor appointments; trained

translators whose role is to ensure that the elders are receiving what they require. This means that they need to be fluent in the Slavey language and have some health training as well. They need to understand medical terms, be able to aid an elder in understanding what the diagnosis is and what they have to do to stay healthy.

We also need doctors that come to our regions for longer periods of time and ideally be permanent residents of our communities.

During question period I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services questions that pertain to this statement.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to bring attention today to a very slow moving government project. That project is the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

As early as February 2010, I began urging the government to recognize the need for a government-wide comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy and to take action on it. I’ve made statements in the House many times since. To its credit, the government has taken some action in the last year and a half, but it’s been too little and taken much too much time to get going.

A motion was passed in this House on February 11th last year which called for the development of a

comprehensive NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy, and on May 19th the Premier in his statement that day said,

“Mr. Speaker, we’re prepared to undertake the work required to develop an overarching discussion paper that would address issues of defining and measuring progress on poverty, summarize current programs and strategic direction related to reducing poverty areas for further action.” That was 15 months ago, Mr. Speaker, and we have yet to see that paper.

As of October last year when no action had been taken to start the promised work, concerned NWT residents, the No Place for Poverty Alliance, organized and held a very successful workshop, the results of which were published in the No Place for Poverty report. That report again urged the GNWT to begin development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy. Another period of inaction followed until the Premier, in February of this year, announced the establishment of a GNWT working group which would produce the discussion paper he’d promised a year before. As of today, Members have not seen that paper and indications are the report on the development of a strategy will be handed off to the 17th Assembly.

I have to ask, Mr. Speaker, when will we see that paper, because it is long overdue. I can only interpret the government’s delay as a stalling tactic; that the hope is the issue will go away if they wait long enough. Well, that’s not about to happen, Mr. Speaker. The benefits of such a strategy to the government, to our staff and to our residents are immeasurable. This issue is supported by the No Place for Poverty Alliance, a group comprised of 29 diverse organizations who represent people right across the NWT. An Anti-Poverty Strategy is important to me, as well, Mr. Speaker, but how important is it to other Members of this House? Well, we will soon know.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

At a press conference this morning the alliance launched its anti-poverty election tool kit. They will be asking each candidate in the October 3rd election to take a pledge to make an

Anti-Poverty Strategy a key priority for the 17th Assembly. The Alliance will then publish the results for voters’ consideration.

I have to commend the Alliance for their election initiative and fully support their stand. The development of this strategy must be a top priority for the next Assembly. It’s an issue which will not go away. Our residents need it. Our NGOs and local governments want it and are asking for it. I have to ask: will the Assembly rise to the challenge brought to us by the people? We shall see. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Colleagues, before I go to the next Member for Members’ statements I’d like to draw your attention to the gallery and the presence of a former Member of the House, Mr. Henry Zoe is with us today.

The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise with enormous sadness today to offer words of sympathy to the families and friends of Yellowknifers who lost their lives in the tragedy of First Air flight 6560. I offer these condolences in concert with my colleagues and in the absence of a sitting Member for the riding of Range Lake where they resided.

Ute Merritt was a flight attendant who perished in the Resolute Bay disaster. Daughter Samantha of Weledeh has noted that in every picture of her, Ute is smiling. Ute’s prowess as a sailor is well known, and she and Jim were virtually unbeatable in the regular races on the bay. My heartfelt condolences to Ute’s husband, Jim, and to their children, Victoria, Nicolas, Devan, Carl, and Samantha.

Dave Hare, a well-respected first officer with First Air, was a former Weledeh constituent. Dave put priority on spending time with his children and was an outdoor and hunting enthusiast. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Jane, and to their children Lily, Adelyn, and Genevieve, and to Dave and Jane’s parents who are in Yellowknife supporting their family.

Anne Marie Golding was purser and flight attendant on the First Air flight and was a long-term nurse at Stanton Hospital. She was very highly regarded, with many friends in the community. To Anne Marie’s children, Ashley and Bradley, and to her parents, Linda and Harry of Yellowknife, I extend my deepest sympathies.

While we mourn the loss of these parents and community members, let’s also give thanks for the miraculous survival of Nicole Williamson and Robin Wyllie, both of Yellowknife, and seven-year-old Gabrielle Eckalook.

The service and sacrifice of those in our aviation industry should also be recognized. In our small and tightly-knit northern society these losses hit hard and sadness ripples throughout our community. Though we may not have been personally acquainted with these lost, we know they were our community partners and fellow citizens. This kind of tragedy cuts deep.

I know all Members join me in expressing the most profound regret at these families’ losses and our prayers that with the help of their community and loved ones they will find comfort in their grief. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today about a new sports organization in the Northwest Territories called Golf Northwest Territories. This organization was spearheaded by a group of individuals from a number of communities across the NWT. The founding members of Golf NT are Carl Bird and Gordon Brayton from Yellowknife, Quinn Groenhyde and Mike King from Hay River, Jean Soucy from Fort Smith, and Conan Donahue from Fort Simpson.

Their idea was to create a territorial organization that would help promote the benefits of the wonderful game of golf.

The main goal of Golf NT is to encourage youth to participate so that we can continue to see the growth of our game in our territory amongst our youth.

In April of this year Golf NT applied to become a recognized territorial sport organization, or TSO. With this status, Golf NT will now have access to funding to help promote the game of golf, develop junior golfers, and oversee competitions around the territory. Current membership is over 650 and is concentrated in the four communities that have well-established golf courses: Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Fort Simpson. There are also members from Gameti, and interest has been shown from golfers in Norman Wells and Inuvik.

Golf NT held its second annual NWT championships where an under-17 team was chosen to compete at the recently held Western Canada Summer Games, a first ever for the NWT. The NWT golf team consisted of Brandon Tuckey from Fort Smith, Jeff Groenhyde and Kieran Kipling from Hay River, Devon Hinchey and Emily Hamm from Yellowknife. Gord Brayton, the general manager and pro at the Yellowknife Golf Club, acted as the coach, and Nicole Hamm of Yellowknife was the team manager.

I want to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to wish Golf NT every success in the future. The growth of the game amongst our youth is a direct result of the dedication and determination of the coaches, parents, and other golfers that help our youth get involved in sports and in golf in particular, and grow this sport here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my leadership: Tlicho Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus is here with us; also Chief Alphonse Nitsiza of Whati; Chief Charlie Football of Wekweeti; and also an elder from Gameti, Louie Zoe is here with us. Also staff members along with the leadership: John B. Zoe, Bertha Rabesca-Zoe and Henry Zoe.

Also, I’d like to recognize another lady that came from outside the territory: Bonnie George. She’s a...(inaudible)...chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation of British Columbia. She’s visiting Yellowknife as part of a practicum towards her master’s degree curriculum developing Aboriginal studies and she’s here to witness how this government operates. I’d like to welcome everybody here. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my great pleasure today to recognize a representative

of one of the organizations for the No Place for Poverty Alliance, Ms. Julie Green, director of community relations for the YWCA. Welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

August 22nd, 2011

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I had the opportunity to recognize a few folks that are down doing some work around caribou issues as well as Wildlife Act issues. Further today I’d like to also recognize James Firth. I believe he’s about to be chairman of the Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize James Firth, acting chair of the Gwich’in Renewable Resource Council and former chief of the Inuvik Native Band. Welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I’d like to welcome Mr. Frank Pokiak, the chair of the Inuvialuit Game Council; and Mr. Larry Carpenter, chair of the Wildlife Management Advisory Council of the NWT. Thank you and welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the president of the Deline Land Corporation, Mr. Peter Menacho. I’d also like to recognize our chair of the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, Mr. Walter Bayha; and I believe the Renewable Resource Council member, a real good fisherman, Paul Modeste in the gallery, all from Deline.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Edward Esau. He’s a Page here helping us do our business of the Assembly. He’s most notably known as the son of one of our staff members, Phoebe Esau. Thanks for your help here today. Thank you.